MLR 2020 – East Conference Preview

All three expansion sides will compete in Major League Rugby’s East Conference, which in itself creates a natural split in the group. While the new teams are certainly no slouches, the returning sides each hold an advantage with having gone through a full 16-game season once before.

Toronto, New York, and New Orleans all have a significant number of returning players which also gives them a leg up in terms of team cohesion at the start of the season. That said the newcomers are all quality outfits who will trouble the less convincing lower lights of the West Conference.

 

TORONTO ARROWS

Canada’s only team in the competition made a big impression in 2019. After a 50/50 start to the season, they were nearly unbeatable at home to qualify for the Semi Finals. Eventual champions Seattle were a step ahead but it was a very good start for the blue and white.

2019 RECORD: 11-6 (Semi-Finalists)

HEAD COACH: Having been with the team since its inception, Chris Silverthorn is in his third year in charge of the Arrows. He has been a senior provincial coach for several years before that and has carried the same diligent approach to the professional ranks.

CAPTAIN: Experienced winger Dan Moor will lead the side from the start this season. He was co-captain along with Lucas Rumball last year, though Moor assumed the lead role in most match days. Rumball is vice-captain this season. Both are model professionals who set high standards on and off the pitch.

STAR PLAYER: The Arrows don’t really have anyone who qualifies as a bona fide star, but Sam Malcolm might be the best fit if one has to be named. Small of stature and unassuming, the New Zealander was central to so much of last year’s success as the first choice flyhalf and goal kicker. He will switch to fullback this year, giving Toronto two playmakers to look for along with new No10 Tayler Adams.

KEY DEPARTURE: There’s no question that tighthead prop Morgan Mitchell is the biggest loss in the off-season. Newcomer Richie Asiata can replace his ball-carrying but there are big shoes to fill in the scrum. Canadian international Cole Keith is another in line to plug the gap at No3.

SMART SIGNING: We reckon Tomás de la Vega might be the buy of the season in the East Conference, if not all of MLR. At 29 years old the Argentine loose forward remains at the height of his powers and despite not playing test rugby since 2014 is of genuine international class. He is an all-rounder who should start on the flank.

ONE TO WATCH: With Rob Brouwer creeping up into his late 30s, the loosehead prop torch is in the process of being passed to Pat Lynott. The 24-year-old wasn’t even on the Arrows senior roster to start last season’s campaign but he took his opportunities when they came and should now get a chance to prove he can scrum with the best that MLR has to offer.

STRENGTHS: A large percentage of returning players means strong team cohesion from Day One. The Arrows had mixed results to start last year’s campaign but that experience should see them off to a better start in 2020. This is a well-rounded side who will be very, very tough to beat once they hit the home stretch at the end of the season.

CONCERNS: Game breakers were not in high supply in 2019 and with Avery Oitomen concentrating on his schooling this year, it will be up to the likes of Gastón Mieres and Spencer Jones to conjure something extra with ball in hand. The aforementioned question mark at tighthead prop will need to be answered early by Keith or Asiata.

OUTLOOK: Mitchell aside, this team looks stronger on paper than they did in 2019. Add in better preparations and a year of experience for a lot of new professionals and this has the makings of another contender. Whether they can challenge the best in the West is another matter.

 

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK

It was a season of fine margins under Mike Tolkin in New York’s first go at professional rugby. The Arrows were just ahead in both Toronto and on the standings, and San Diego’s late score in the Semi Final spoiled a shot at Seattle in the Final.

2019 RECORD: 11-6 (Semi-Finalists)

HEAD COACH: Replacing Tolkin at the head of the ship is Greg McWilliams, who joins fresh off assisting Gary Gold with the Eagles at RWC 2019. He should push for a more dynamic attacking game than his predecessor. The highly-regarded Marty Veale will run the rule over the forwards having returned to New York from a stint with the Sunwolves in Japan.

CAPTAIN: There is also a new captain as Eagles hooker Dylan Fawsitt takes the reins from Mike Petri. ‘The Butcher’ is a fierce competitor who is equally good in the loose and the set piece, as his league-leading try-scoring feats of a year ago can attest. Petri and Nate Brakeley will act as vice-captains.

STAR PLAYER: The signing of Mathieu Bastareaud set off a tidal wave of international recruits. Whether the giant man – who reportedly checked into training camp at over 300lbs (136kg) – can live up to his equally enormous reputation has yet to be seen. Likely to start at outside center but also an option at No8, he is at the very least unlikely to come second best in collisions.

KEY DEPARTURE: Three high quality loose forwards left the team in the off-season. Flankers John Quill and Matt Hughston will be missed, but it’s workhorse No8 Ross Deacon who leaves the biggest hole on the roster. Irish import Evan Mintern looks to be the man to fill those shoes but not until his visa clearance comes through.

SMART SIGNING: Back row reinforcements were desperately needed and in Kara Pryor the team has a ready-made starter on the flank. Abrasive but also skilled, the New Zealand Māori representative follows Veale from the Sunwolves. His style should suit the more ambitious game plan this season.

ONE TO WATCH: Waiting in the shadows behind Ben Foden is another English fullback in newcomer Troy Lockyear. The latter is a decade Foden’s junior and also US-eligible on residency. Lockyear is a rangy stepper with deceiving pace and polished offloading ability.

STRENGTHS: The set piece was the source of much success for RUNY in 2019, and their dominant tight five remains intact. As with Toronto and NOLA, the team has a large core of returning players. There are no shortage of options in the midfield if Bastareaud spends time at the back of the scrum.

CONCERNS: Until recently there was a real shortage of front rowers but those that have been added are unproven at this level. Injuries in the back row could also become a problem quickly with only five specialists on the books. How quickly the team can adopt to a new style will determine their success in the first half of the season.

OUTLOOK: An ideal match day 23 looks about as strong as any but the delayed arrival of their Irish recruits means they’ll have to reach into their domestic roster a little more than expected for at least the first couple weeks of the season. Injuries permitting expect another shot at the post-season come June.

 

NOLA GOLD

There are new digs in The Gold Mine at Airline, but otherwise this is a very similar team to the one that lead the league in the first half of the 2019 season. As they did in 2018, the injury bug struck again and derailed their playoff hopes but some savvy recruiting looks to have built sufficient depth at key positions for 2020.

2019 RECORD: 9-7 (5th) (ALL-TIME: 12-12)

HEAD COACH: Never afraid to experiment, Nate Osborne is a firm believer in finding a way to get the best rugby players on the pitch at all times. His team sheets always make for interesting reading – identical starting XVs appeared in back-to-back games only once in 2019. He returns for a third MLR campaign with a clear mandate to reach the post-season for the first time.

CAPTAIN: Eric Howard led the team in 2019 but it’s fellow Canadian Kyle Baillie who has taken over the top on-field leadership position in 2020. Something of a late bloomer, the 28-year-old is now an indispensable starter for both club and country. Most at home on the blindside flank but will also find himself at lock or No8, often switching spots over the course of the game.

STAR PLAYER: With the international season now pushed to later in the year there will be no scheduled disruptions for Cam Dolan in 2020. The US Eagles eightman is one of the elite lineout jumpers in MLR and a dangerous runner who can counter attack and link with the backs. Having Dolan in place from start to finish is a real boost to the side.

KEY DEPARTURE: It was only recently that the cat was let out of the bag – Tristan Blewett is no longer in New Orleans. The Gold have filled the gap as best they could but there is no question that the loss of the South African dynamo is significant for both the team and the league. This one stings.

SMART SIGNING: Osborne likes players with utility value and Robbie Coleman certainly fits that description. The Australian playmaker can cover anywhere from flyhalf to fullback – he has Super Rugby starts in four different positions. Shifty and with good footballing skills, he should feel right at home in the unpredictable Gold backline.

ONE TO WATCH: To see them both together would have been an awesome sight, but as it is Julián Domínguez will have to provide the game-breaking ability lost with Blewett’s untimely departure. The Argentine winger is a classic finisher with a lethal combination of speed and power. Like Blewett he is also an aggressive defender.

STRENGTHS: With 28 players returning from last season, the Gold have opted to augment rather than rebuild. Those incoming give the team greater depth and a good mix of veteran pros and developing talent. Even without Blewett NOLA’s backline is among the most potent in MLR.

CONCERNS: One spot a little light in numbers is the halfbacks where only Holden Yungert and Scott Gale are specialists. Loosehead prop options Matt Harmon and Kevin Sullivan are talented but inexperienced. The team collapsed at the business end of the season in 2019. Can they hold their form in 2020?

OUTLOOK: In early January many were picking the Gold as their favorites for glory in the East. A shaky run-out against ATL and the loss of Blewett has tempered those expectations somewhat, but there is too much ability for this team not to be in the playoff race this season.

 

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS

New kids on the block, part one. Boston’s first entry into MLR had the luxury of an expansive exhibition program starting in October 2018. Many new players have since joined meaning the team will have a very different look in their professional debut. Fan support will certainly be there as early attendance figures have been very encouraging.

2019 RECORD: n/a

HEAD COACH: Technically his first season in MLR but this will be the second for Josh Smith after taking charge for New England’s trial run in 2018-19. The affable Boston native is one of only three North American born-and-raised coaches in the league along with ATL’s Scott Lawrence and Chris Silverthorn of Toronto. Smith previously enjoyed a successful five-year run in charge of Mystic River.

CAPTAIN: Newly installed for the 2020 season is Canadian second row Josh Larsen. Known for his set piece prowess and high work rate in the loose, the 25-year-old steps into the skipper’s shoes filled by Tadhg Leader in last year’s exhibition run. Larsen was a vice-captain with Austin Elite in 2019.

STAR PLAYER: The Free Jacks roster isn’t laden with household names but there are a few standouts. Former New Zealand Sevens playmaker Beaudein Waaka is certain to feature in a few highlight reels this season but Japanese tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama is the most recognizable figure in terms of international experience.

SMART SIGNING: A rare Life University export who didn’t end up on the ATL roster. Mitch Wilson is similar to Waaka in his ability to cover multiple positions and create something out of nothing. Australian-born but a USA resident for several years, the 23-year-old is on the radar for Eagles selectors having already earned selection for the Americas Pacific Challenge.

ONE TO WATCH: Joining the team from the Houston SaberCats is dynamic winger Deion Mikesell. After making his test debut at the age of 19 in 2016, the Lindenwood product has since slipped out of the Eagles squad but a full season in New England could see the athletic specimen drafted into Gary Gold’s roster come July.

STRENGTHS: Coach Smith is known in part for his emphasis on team culture and if social media is anything to go by, the Free Jacks are a gelling nicely. There is a nice balance to the squad with the tight five particularly well stocked. In Leader, Waaka, and French halfback Timothée Guillimin there are three experienced goal kickers to lean on.

CONCERNS: While the appointment of a local Head Coach is worthy of praise, it also comes with a degree of uncertainty given this is Smith’s first professional appointment. On the player front there is a lack of star power though names will emerge over the season. Quality lineout options in the back row are few.

OUTLOOK: The Free Jacks are an organization well placed for long-term success. In the short term, expect the side to be competitive but it will take a herculean effort to leapfrog their more experienced opponents into the playoffs. A 4th-place East Conference finish would be a good result in their first campaign.

 

OLD GLORY DC

The second of the expansion sides to start, Old Glory had a limited but useful trial run in the spring and like New England have built a strong organizational foundation geared for longevity. With several notable additions including the league’s most high profile recruit, DC will be a formidable outfit from the opening whistle. Staying the course for 17 weeks is the tricky part.

2019 RECORD: n/a

HEAD COACH: New Zealand native Andrew Douglas was brought in for the spring session and impressed the players and brass enough to get the job full-time. A professional coach in the Waikato region, he also enjoyed stints in Italy with Biella and as an assistant with Toyota Shokki in the Japan Top League. Former Utah coach Alf Daniels has been helping recently as a ‘visitor.’

CAPTAIN: Two players will share on-field leadership responsibilities this season. Scottish flanker Mungo Mason is the top man in the pack, with Eagles center Thretton Palamo looking after the backs. Mason will relish the opportunity to finally play in MLR after missing out with San Diego in 2018. Palamo has trimmed some excess weight and will give the side plenty of go-forward in the midfield.

STAR PLAYER: No need for analysis here. Tendai Mtawarira signed on after winning the Webb Ellis Trophy with the Springboks just a few short months ago. He immediately takes the mantle as MLR’s highest profile athlete. Among the greatest props of the professional era, ‘the Beast’ will give the DC scrum an enormous boost upon arrival.

SMART SIGNING: The lesser-known of DC’s two Canadian international backs, Doug Fraser joins the team after spending the second half of last season with Austin. He concedes several inches in height to Palamo and Ciaran Hearn but is not short on power. The 27-year-old can rotate in at either center position or even step in on the wing if needed.

ONE TO WATCH: Highly promising front rower Jack Iscaro spent a few months training with Glasgow Warriors prior to returning stateside for the MLR campaign. DC have him tabbed as a loosehead prop for the time being but hooker might be his best fit in the future. Either way, Iscaro will benefit immensely from training with Mtawarira on a daily basis.

STRENGTHS: Old Glory has put considerable resources into connecting with the community from the start, and that has paid off with impressive attendance figures in the preseason. Fans can expect their starting team to match up well with the opposition, with their loose forwards and outside backs as good as any in MLR.

CONCERNS: Depth outside those positions is underwhelming. The front row will lean heavily on Mtawarira and Mike Sosene-Feagai, and there are only three locks on the current roster. Injuries to any of their starters at those positions could have drastic consequences.

OUTLOOK: DC will need a bit of luck to challenge for a playoff spot. They don’t have the same depth as the three returning teams in the East and based on their preseason form have some work to do at the set piece. Expect them to fall into the bottom half of the conference with the other two expansion sides.

 

RUGBY ATL

The newest team in the league by virtue of having played zero games until their preseason opener against NOLA. ATL picked up the win on debut, but dropped the other two matches they have played. The roster is heavy on young American players but has recently added South African steel to fortify their maiden voyage in MLR.

2019 RECORD: n/a

HEAD COACH: Former Eagles flanker Scott Lawrence steps into the professional ranks having tasted victory with Life and the Junior All-Americans. He worked with the Eagles under John Mitchell and is known for his attention to detail. Lawrence has served a long apprenticeship in American rugby and now has his chance to stand among the elite coaches in the Americas.

CAPTAIN: One of those South Africans brought in was former World Sevens Series select Ryan Nell. The 29-year-old inside center led the Pumas in the Currie Cup and will now serve as a mentor for ATL young stars-to-be. Nell has the size to crash over the gainline but prefers to use footwork and his strong distribution skills to create holes for the speed merchants outside.

STAR PLAYER: Another team short on star power. ATL have only five capped internationals, tied with Houston for the lowest of any side in MLR. Instead it’s the Super Rugby experience of flyhalf Kurt Coleman that marks him as a difference maker. After returning from a long injury break, the 30-year-old gets a chance at a fresh start in a new competition.

SMART SIGNING: The most-capped player in the side is Canadian flanker Matt Heaton. ATL are flush with blindside-slash-No8 type ball carriers but Heaton is an old-school openside who is more a tackler and breakdown menace than link man. He also brings leadership qualities having skippered Darlington Mowden Park in England last year.

ONE TO WATCH: Sneaking in with almost no fanfare ahead of the season is former St. Mary’s No8 Vili Helu. He will start on the blindside flank for ATL and turned heads in the preseason with some impressive displays. Standing 6’4″ (1.93m) and with the athleticism of a back, this 23-year-old specimen looks every inch a future international.

STRENGTHS: There is something to be said for youthful exuberance. Many of these players have also shared the pitch together for several seasons in the past. The pack suddenly looks beefy and any of six players could wear the No8 jersey at some point this season. There are also impressive finishers out wide with the two Harleys – Wheeler and Davidson – manning the wings.

CONCERNS: On the flipside with only three players past their 30th birthday and most in their mid-20s, experience is not in abundance. Overall depth looks reasonable though much rests on the ability of first choice halfbacks Coleman and Duncan van Schalkwyk to stay fit. The midfield has bodies but only Nell is a proven commodity.

OUTLOOK: It’s a similar tale to the other expansion sides. Of the three newcomers, this team looks most capable of squeaking into the post-season but doing so in the hyper-competitive East division is a tall order. Look for them to pick up a couple big results at home. Road trips, however, should prove difficult.

 

PREDICTION

Toronto’s impressive depth, thorough preparation, and sterling home record make them the team to beat but not by much. Fellow returnees NOLA and RUNY are near-equals and any of the three could conceivably top the East. This is a stronger division overall than the West, reflected by the quality of the expansion teams.

1. Toronto Arrows, 2. NOLA Gold, 3. Rugby United New York